New Orleans Kids Partnership honors local mentors and tutors

New Orleans Kids Partnership last month honored mentors and tutors for their participation and dedication to youth, and at the same time, kicked off a four month campaign to recruit 10 new mentors and tutors for the next school year. Many people arrived at the U.S. Mint Building in New Orleans for the free celebratory event. Amng them were members of NOKP partner organizations including STAIR, Roots of Music and Volunteers of America, just to name a few.

NOKP is a coalition of about 40 member organizations. About 15 of those organizations were in charge of the special event to honor mentors and kick off the recruitment of new mentors. NOKP’s executive director Mathew Schwarzmann, said, “We wanted the mentors and tutors to come away from this event really feeling special.”

Markell Montgomery, center, talks about his experiences as Hasaan Gofner, left, and and Band founder Derrick Tabb look on.

Schwarzmann also said that while teachers, administrators and principals are very important to New Orleans school system, volunteers are what keep the system afloat as well. “Really, the whole system could not work without hundreds, well thousands, of volunteers every year who help to do that one-on-one work that no teacher or principal is ever able to do,” said Schwarzmann.

To honor the mentors and tutors, TBC Brass band serenaded the crowd playing several

The Marching Crusaders perform for guests in front of the U.S. Mint Building.

of its own songs and a cover of Arrested Development’s “Everyday People.” When the second line music started, many sprung to their feet or danced in their seats. Guests and honorees who weren’t grooving to TBC’s sounds were socializing and taking advantage of the food, wine and beer served in the lobby. After a while, TBC urged guests to second line their way outside of the U.S. Mint for a performance by the Roots of Music’s band, the Marching Crusaders. Some argue that the Marching Crusaders’ performance was the most fascinating, largely because children between the ages of 9 and 14 form the band.

The Roots of Music serves New Orleans youth ages 9-14. It provides tuition-free, year round music education and academic mentoring.

Led by Derrick Tabb, a member of the Rebirth Brass Band, the Marching Crusaders gave the audience a taste of what’s to come during the upcoming parade season. Marching Crusaders’ drum major, Markell Montgomery, has been part of The Roots of Music organization for the past four years. Montgomery, a ninth grader at Warren Easton, urges students like him to “take a chance and join Roots of Music if you love music.”

Much like Montgomery, other children get to have a similar experience just with more one-on-one interaction.

Last October, Frederica Williams, a mentor with Volunteers of America, became a mentor to a little girl because she simply wanted to be part of a little girl’s life. Initially, Williams was assigned the one little girl, but the little girl has a sister so she spends time with both of them.

Williams said, “I look forward to picking up the girls on Fridays and seeing the smiles on their faces.”

Williams understands that her role is to be a mentor, not a parent. Barbara Williams, Site Coordinator with Volunteers of America, emphasized just that.

Williams said, “The mentors do not take the place of the parent or caregiver, they only befriend the child.”

Mentors take the children out to places like the zoo or the bowling alley, but they also spend time with them in the home doing arts and crafts or sewing.

“Mentors become part of their mentees' family really,” she said.

Just like mentors, tutors participate in the children's lives, but mainly for academic purposes. Sharon Marse, a tutor with the STAIR program, tutors a little girl at William Hart Elementary in Gretna.

Marse doesn’t have any female children, so she enjoys tutoring a little girl. “It’s a delight to tutor a little girl…she’s so delicate and willing to learn.” Of her experience with the STAIR program, she said, “It’s so rewarding because the children are there and they want to learn.”

Start The Adventure In Reading, STAIR, began in 1985 with the mission to improve elementary school students’ reading skills and self-esteem.

With the help of tutors and mentors like Marse and Williams, the young people have access to other volunteers. Schwarzmann said that based on NOKP’s research, “The best way to recruit mentors and tutors is to get a current mentor or tutor to help.” They help by sharing their stories and reasons for becoming mentors and tutors. None of them get paid for mentoring and tutoring, but many of them say that seeing the children happy and enjoying their lives is payment enough.

NOKP and its allies arelooking for volunteers to make a commitment of at least a year or more. For more information, visit www.NOKP.org. The website also has links to the websites of its partner organizations.